Liquid separator or save-all



F eb, 20, 1940.

D. A. SMELSER LIQUID SEPARATOR GR ShVFbALL Filed March 1 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 20, 1940 D. A. SMELSER LIQUID SEPARATOR OR SAVE-ALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1938 Patented Feb. 20, 1940 rATENT OFFICE 2,191,122 l moUlnsnP aAToR. 0R SAVE-ALL David A. Smelser, Bristol, Tenn; I i Application March 1, 1938, Serial No. 193,346

" This invention relates to a liquid separator or save-all, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide anapparatus of thiskind wherein the separating element comprises a r0- tary drum so mounted and assembled to substantially eliminate loss of liquid.

The invention also has for an object to pro,- vide an apparatus of this hindemploying a rotary drum as a separating element, the peripheral ,0 wall ofsaiddrum being perforated together with means within the drum for directing upon said perforated walla fluid under pressure to relieve such wall from clogging and to facilitate the desired carrying off of the foreign matter separated from the liquid; i

An additional object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus of this kindcomprising a vat or container having mounted therein a rotatable separating drum tog-ether with an au- 20 tomatically controlled liquid vinlet arranged to one side of the drumand wherein the outlet leads from the interior of less expensive and otherwisemore convenient and i5 advantageous for use,

as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. i

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. i

In order that my inventionmay bethe better Q understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein p Figure 1 is avertical sectional view with parts save-all Constructed in accordance with an embodimentof my inventioni FigureZ is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with parts in ele- 0 vation;

Figure 3 is ant enlarged fragmentary view in top plan of the nozzle as herein disclosed;

Figure 4' is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l i of Figure 3 5 Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in elevation taken through a liquid separator or.

longitudinally through thedisoharge apron or chute. i

As disclosedin the accompanying drawings, C denotesra container or vat ofn desired. configuration and capacity and which, as herein disclosed, ismaintained at a desired elevation through the' medium of a framestructure F. Thecontainer or vat C has one end portion I of its topopen with the remaining portion of the top closed by a wall 2; Extending transversely across the container or vat C is a partition 3, said partition extending down from the inner end of the wall 2 to a point in close proximity to the bottom wall l-of the container or vat withthe lower portion of the partition 3 preferably disposed on a curvature substantiallyv concentric-to the peripheral wall 5 of theseparating element or drum D. This wall 5 of the drum, as herein disclosed, comprises a wire mesh fabric of desired gauge welded or otherwise securely attached as may be preferred to the drum headed. These heads 6 possess a certain degree of inherent resiliency and extending outwardly through each of these heads ii at the axialtcenter thereof is a tubular trunnion i open at both ends. The inner end of the trunnion l. is defined by an outstanding flange ilto providemeans for attachment of the associated head t to the trunnion. Bolted, treat 9, or otherwise secured to the peripheral portion of each of the heads i5 is an annular rack or gear I0. i

The partition 3 hereinhefore referred'to divides the container or vat into two compartments X and Y, the open top i beingin communication with the compartment X. 7 Each of the sidewalls H for the compartment X of the container. or vat C is provided with a vertically disposed slot 12 open at the top of said wall andextending downwardly of the wall H a distance to. be determined by the radii of the drum 1 and the heightofthewall H. y X i Insertible withinthe slot itthrough the upper open endthereof is a tubular bearing M carrying an upstanding plate I5 for closing the portion of the slot 52 above the applied hearing is. This plate It laps theportions of the wall ll defining the side margins of the slot it and said lapping portions are securely fastened by the bolts 66 or otherwise as may he preferred. The lower portion of the plate i5 is continuedby a flange ll which is continued around and under the bear+ M, said-flange also lapping the portions of the wall 5 E defining the adjacent margins of the slot 12. His also to be statedthat the lower end of the slot 12 isiormed to conform with the wardly so thatwhen the drum D is in applied or adjacent cross sectionalbonfiguration of the bearing l4.

Each of the bearings l4 before being applied has telescopically engaged therein a trunnion 1. Each of the heads 6 of the drum D issubstantially coplanar and said heads are spaced apart a distance in excess of the distance between the inserted ends of the applied bearings Hi. After the bearings havebeen properly assembled with respect to the trunnions l in order to place the bearings M'withinthe slots l2, the central portions of the heads will have to be forced inworking positionwithin the compartment X, the

heads 6 are concavo convex with'the concave faces outwardly disposed. These heads 6 are of metal or other material possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency and when the central portions thereof are forced inwardly said central portions have a natural tendency. to return to their initial coplanar position. This action of the heads 6 serves to maintain an effective joint between the trunnions l and the bearings l4 Without the use of gland packings or the like. To facilitate the action of the heads 6 in maintaining the jointsl find it of advantage to surround the trunnions 1 between the heads 0 the inner endsof the "washers l8. q

The drum D is of such diameter that when operatively mounted within the compartment X of the container or vat C it closely approaches the bottom wall 4 of the container or vat and with its and upper portion extending up and beyond the upper opentop I. 'Ihisdrum D is also of a length to substantially bridgethe space betweenjthe side walls ll. g

It is also to be noted that the members 9 holding the racks or gears ID to the heads 5 bridge the space betweenlthe peripheral portions of the heads 6 and are so constructed and arranged asto constitute spacing members for such peripheral portions of the heads 6. One of the side walls I! carries a bearing bracket l9 extending above the open. top I of the compartment X and in'close proximity to the applied drum D. This bearing bracket l9 provides a mounting for one end portion of the shaft which extends transversely across the top of the j container or vat C with the opposite end portion rotatably supported by a housing 2 I. This housing 2'! contains a conventional transmission, as

' indicated by broken lines at 22, whereby the shaft I9 is driven by an operating shaft 23. This shaft 23'may be driven in any manner preferred but, as herein disclosed, is in driven connection 1 The bottom'wall 4 has disposed therethrough a cylindrical casing extending within the compartment Y. This casing hasits upper or inserted end closed by a plate 3! and the side wall of the casing 33 immediately adjacent to the plate 3| is provided therearound with the eduction openings 32. snugly engaged within the casing 30, free-for sliding movement therein, is a tubular bearings M with suitable valve sleeve 33. This sleeve '33 is intersected by a bar or spider 34 to which is threaded or otherwise suitably afiixed the lower end portion of a rod 35. This rod 35 extends upwardly and free-' ly through the plate 3| and is of a length to extend through and above the top wall 2; The

plate 3| and top'wall 2 are provided with suitable openings 36 and 31 respectively to allow for such mounting of the rod 35. The portion of the rod 35 above the top wall 2 carries an enlarge ment or head adjustably mountedv thereon.

This enlargement or head 38 constitutes a stop I coacting with thetop wall 2 to limitthe extent of downward movement of the sleeve 33.

When the liquid within the container or vat C rises above a predetermined level the rod 35 will be caused to move upwardly under the action of the float 39 carried by the rod 35. The 'rod 35 will move upwardly to cause the sleeve 33 to closefthe eduction openings 32. As the fluid to be separated enters the container or vat.

0 through the sleeve 33 and casing 38 it will at once be understood that should the liquid level within the container or vat rise above apredeter mined height the openings 32 will be closed by the sleeve 33 and the ingress of the fluid stopped.

Of course, as the level of the liquid returns to a predetermined height the sleeve 33 will move downwardly to permit the desired inlet of the fluid.

The fluid within the container or vat C readily enters the drum D through the perforated or reticulated' wall 5 thereof.i This wall 5, however, serves effectively to separate the foreign matter from the liquid so that as the liquid is discharged from the compartment X it will be sub- 'stantially free. of the-impurities desired to be removed. The discharge of the separated liquid from the compartment X is out through the associated bearings l4 and trunnions 1. Each of the bearings I4 is adapted to have coupled thereto a carry-off pipe 40 as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2, leading to discharge.

The outer or lower. end of the. casing 32" is adapted to'have coupled thereto a pipe line 4| as illustrated by broken lines in Figure 1 leading from the source of supply of the liquid to be sep arated. The matter separated'from the liquid by the peripheral wall 5 of the drum .D is carried upwardly-as the drum rotates and is deliveredto the discharge apron or chute A'. This apron or chute A, as herein disclosed, comprises a a suitable point of frame 42 of desired dimensions and which frame carries a perforated or reticulatedsheet 43 disposed over the central opening defined by the frame. This sheet 43 is preferably wire fabric of desired mesh. Theframe 42 hasjone of its members hingedly connected, as at 44, to an outstanding ledge 45 carried by the end wall 46 adjacentto the drum D. .When this apron or chute A is swung inwardly into working position as illustrated in Figure 1, the frame contacts with the-upper edge of the end wall 46 whereby the apron or chute 43 is effectively supported on a downward and outward incline yet free of con-- tact with the wall 5 of the drum D. The foreign matter separates from the liquid by the wall 50f the drum D as the drum rotates, will pass out over the sheet 43 and such liquid as may also be discharged from the drum D will be returned through the fabric 43 130113118 compartment X. This is of advantage as the loss of liquid is minimized. l

The chute or apron A adjacent to itsends is provided with the upstandingside walls 41 to assure proper and effective discharge from the apron or chute A. It is also believed to be obvious that the chute or apron A is of such have eifective coaction with the N isplaced within the drum D closely adjacent.

to the peripheral wall 5 thereof and also in relatively close proximity to the apron or chute A. This nozzle N is of a length to substantially bridge the space between the heads 5 of the drum D and has each of its ends closed, as at 48. Immediately adjacent to its closed ends, the nozzle N has its peripheral wall slitted, as at 49, for a distance substantially one-half way therearound and the upper or outer ends of the slits 49 are connected by a slot 59 extending lengthwise through the wall of the nozzle. At predetermined points therealong the nozzle has disposed therethrough the headed members 5! having thread ed thereon the nuts 52. As herein disclosed, the nuts 52 contact with the portion of the wall of the nozzle separated from the ends 48 thereof by the slits 49. width of the slot 55 may be adjusted so that desired regulation can be had of the flow of fluid out through the slot 5| Thenozzle Nat its central portion has in communication therewith the rigid tubular member 53 which is also in communication with and carried by the central portion of an elongated tubular member 54. As herein disclosed this member 54 is disposed substantially axially through the trunnions l and drum D and has its outer end portions coupled through the wall 4 of the drum Din a manner which will best assure the delivery of the foreign matter upon the wall 4 and the apron or chute A.

Either or both of the supply "pipes 55 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure. In practice, however, it is preferred that only one of these pipes 55 be so connected and with such a hookup the second pipe 55 will be capped or otherwise closed.

While the fluid to be delivered from the nozzle N may be liquid, steam, air, or gas, it is preferred that suchfluid be liquid which has been dis? charged from the compartment X. The advantage of this resides in the fact that the liquid By proper adjustment of the nuts 52 the returning to the compartment X through the apron or chute A will not dilute,vary, or in any way effect the character of the liquid as it passes out from the compartment X. i

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a liquid separator or save-all constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles andspirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described including 3 a container, a rotary drum comprising heads, a

perforated peripheral wall carried by said heads,

said heads possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency, tubular trunnions extending outwardly from the central portions of the heads, said scopically engage, the distance between the inner ends of the trunnions normally exceeding the distance between the inner ends of the bearings, the resiliency of the heads providing means to permit the trunnions to be moved inwardly of the drum a distance suflicient to engage the trunnions within the bearings, the resiliency of said heads also maintaining the trunnions in close sealing contact, said assembled trunnions and bearings providing outlets for the container, said container also having an inlet, and means for rotating the drum. e e

2. In a liquid separator, the combination with a rotatable drum having a peripheral wall; of an elongated nozzle within the drum closely adjacent to the peripheral wall thereof, said nozzle being in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, said nozzle comprising an elongated tubular member of a length to extend substantially from. one head to the other of the drum, the ends of said member being closed, the

wall of the member closely adjacent to the closed ends having circumferentially disposed slits extending a material distance therearound, said member having its wallprovided with a slot extending lengthwise thereof from the end of one of the slits tothe corresponding end of the second slit, and means engaging the portion of the wall between the slits of the member for varying the width of the slot.

DAVID A. SMELSER. 

